Event Comment: Mainpiece: With Proper Decorations. Dance by Desire. Paid Mr Donell for a Brown velvet coat & Breeches and a blue velvet flower'd waistcoat #4 4s.; to Mr Hughes for a blue velvet suit embroider'd, a Gray cloth coat lac'd with gold, a scarlet velvet waistcoat, an uncut velvet suit & cold straps #55; Paid Blandford (Tallow Chandler) #17 18s. 11d.; Paid Mr Havers five eights share Rent 100 nights #7 5s. 10d.; Paid Mrs Stanhope's 2 shares ditto #28 6s. 8d.; Norton 3 chorus 15s. (Treasurer's Book). Receipts: #200 (Cross); #170 8s. (Treasurer's Book)

Event Comment: Paid Mr Shudale for making a Bishop's Robe for Quin in Lady Jane Gray #5 3s. Receipts: #85 10s. 6d

Event Comment: Benefit for Shawford, Gray, Dunbarr and Burke. N.B. Tickets sold by the Orange Women will not be admitted. Receipts: #200 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Mrs Mills. Tickets deliver'd out by Taswell, Sg Piettro, and Mr Oswald, as well as those for Lady Jane Gray will be taken. Receipts: #128 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Dunbar, Gray, Dawson, Smith. Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: Benefit for Morris, Gray, Dunbar, Smith. Receipts: #150 (Cross)

Event Comment: [Favorable comment on Mossop's Acting appeared in Grays Inn Journal for 29 Sept.] Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: MMrs Cowper did Sylvia, for her first appearance here (she came from Bath, Richmond &c.)-Toll. Afterpiece as originally perform'd (Cross) [i.e., without the burlesque scenes of The Fair (see 6 Nov. 1752).] This piece [Harlequin Ranger] was now acted as originally written. It is surprising that Mr Garrick should be the first to introduce Pantomime Entertainments (this season) especially as his own universal talents are seconded by a good company of performers. We suppose he does it to gratify the taste of the town; but such Smithfield exhibitions should certainly be banish'd from all regular theatres; and as Mr Woodward is an excellent comedian, it would be more eligible in him if he chuses to wear the motley dress any more to appear in the character of a speaking Harlequin, after the manner of the Italian Comedy; and indeed it is not a little surprising that nothing of this kind has yet been admitted upon our stage (Gentleman's Magazine, Oct., p. 493, from Grays' Inn Journal, 13 Oct. 1753.). Receipts: #120 (Cross)

Event Comment: [L+Letter to Miss Nossiter on Her First Appearance, pub. at 1s. praises her "natural acting" and analyses the character of Juliet as a most appropriate one for beginners: "In the First act she hath scarce anything to say; which affords her some breathing time to recover the confusion, into which her first appearance, before so awful an assembly must naturally throw her." Criticizes a supposed rival for planting herself full against her, as if with an intent by the superior force of her effrontery to stare away the little degree of Courage" Miss Nossiter had left. Her youth and freshness required no paint, so her color came and went as the passion required it, no small addition to the impression of natural acting. She is never inattentive on stage. She feels what others say as much as what she speaks herself. The Author gives practically a speech by speech account of her part, describing her gesture, action, and modulation of voice minutely. Concludes by pointing the reader's attention to Otway's contribution to the Garrick version which was played then at both houses. Praises Barry for instructing Miss Nossiter and bringing her to the stage. Hopes Garrick will refrain from attacking her in his papers, The Craftsman and Gray's Inn Journal, because she will one day become such an ornament to the stage, that I shall be proud to own myself the first who publicly displayed her merit.' Hers is the greatest real first attempt made by man or Woman on the stage, within these 40 years." See also 1 Nov.

Event Comment: Two days ago a Letter [price 1s.] came out to Miss Nossiter in which Mrs Cibber is abu'd & tother greatly extoll'd. The Author has also fell foul upon Mr Murphy author of Gray's Inn Journal. It is wrote by one Morgan an Irish Gent: High words has pass'd at ye Bedford Coff. H. between him and Murphy & 'tis thought a Duel will be ye Consequence (Cross). [See The Authorship of a Letter to Miss Nossiter, Shakespeare Quarterly, January 1952, p. 69.

Event Comment: [M$Murphy in caustic comment in the Gray's Inn Journal this date laid out a set of rules for actor decorum for both Managers, but apparently directed it mostly towards Rich]: I. That no player shall during the performance stand with a vacant face, making a tour with his eyes around the House, or ogling the ladies in the Green Boxes, but that he shall to the best of this power, be attentive to the business of the scene in which he is engag'd. II. That no player shall come on imperfect in his part, or take liberties to insert his own jokes and witticisms in the Productions of those Geniuses, for whom he should have the proper respect due to the superiority of their parts. III. That no one shall mistake bawling for Expression; strutting and swaggering for deportment; twisting the body and looking cunning for sprightliness; pinching of hats and standing on tiptoe for graceful attitude; wry faces for Humour, &c., but that each player who cannot arrive at excellence, shall at least pay some regard to decency. IV. That Murder shall always be committed on stage without being comical

Event Comment: MMiss Nossiter did Belvidera-vast applause (Cross). [$Murphy in Gray's Inn Journal, 16 Nov., noticed Miss Nossiter's appearance in Belvidera, commenting "that she is, upon many occasions Mistress of the Surprising Attitude and Action," agreeing that she gave promise of excellence, wishing that her voice would mellow into more harmony and softness, and delivering a paragraph of advice from Quintilian on the error of false emphasis in elocution.

Event Comment: [Murphy in Gray's Inn Journal puffed' the tragedy Boadicia in rehearsal at dl, commending the casting, and praising the author. See 1 Dec.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: A tragedy written by Mr Glover, great Applause-but a thought dull (Cross). Never Acted before. [Mainpiece complimented left-handedly by Murphy in Gray's Inn Journal, 8 Dec. The music and scenery were both suited to the piec e, and the acting of it, were there no other inducement, should be sufficient to draw numerous audiences...I cannot but remark that the applause it met with, was scarcely warm enough for such fine writing...I am convinced that this Tragedy will prove an elegant Closet-companion to every reader of taste."] Receipts: #230 (Cross)

Event Comment: NNossiter play'd Rutland (Cross). [Murphy in Gray's Inn Journal, 15 Dec., notes: It is universally agreed by all who have seen the play [Essex] that Mrs Bland performs the queen with great Spirit and with more resemblance to a personage of rank, than is commonly seen on the stage."

Event Comment: An Italian Comic Opera by some performers just arriv'd from Paris. Went off pretty well, -a Girl greatly admir'd (Cross). [The girl seems to have been Sga Spiletta.] She plays off with inexhaustible spirits all muscular evolutions of the face and brows; while in her eye wantons a studied archness, and pleasing malignity. Her voice has strength and scope sufficient; has neither too much of the feminine, nor an inclining to the male. Her gestures are ever varying; her transitions quick and easy. Some over-nice critics, forgetting, or not knowing the meaning of the word Burletta, cry that her manner is outre. Wou'd she not be faulty were it otherwise? The thing chargeable to her is (perhaps) too great a luxurience of comic tricks; which (an austere censor would say) border on unlaced lasciviousness, and extravagant petulance of action (Paul Hiffernan, The Tuner, No 1). [Spiletta was the name of the character to whom Sga Nicolina Giordani gave such life that the name stuck to her. See Saxe Wyndham, Annals of Covent Garden Theatre.] [A Comic Opera by G. Giordani, Music by G. Cocchi-Nicoll, English Drama, III, p. 349.] Nothing less than the full price will be taken during the Performance. Printed books of the opera sold at the theatre. Tomorrow, Venice Preserved. [Murphy commented in Gray's Inn Journal (22 Dec.): "A great deal of whatever humour this production may contain, is certainly lost to an English audience; and the manner of acting, being a burlesque upon what people here are not very well acquainted with, is not universally felt. But notwithstanding these disadvantages, there is one among them, Sga Nicolina Giordani, who displayed such lively traces of Humour in her countenance, and such pleasing variety of action, and such variety of graceful deportment, that she is generally acknowledged to be, in that Cast of playing, an excellent comic actress."

Event Comment: Play Particular Desire. Tomorrow, The Funeral, for the benefit of a Family in Distress. Tickets for Lady Jane Gray will be taken

Event Comment: Benefit for a Widow and Family in distress (Cross). Tickets deliver'd out for Lady Jane Gray will be taken; Tomorrow, an Italian Comic Opera, L'Amanti Gelosi

Event Comment: Benefit for Mr Macklin, to which he spoke a farewell Prologue hinting at his new scheme (a Coffee house now fitting up in the Piazza) Mrs Mack, Miss & He play'd (Cross). [Macklin discharged last June from Covent Garden, one night given him at Drury Lane when he took leave; Poor I toss'd up...King Henry 7, 1764 (Winston MS 8). Gray's Inn Journal noted this performance by the bequeathing to the stage of Miss Macklin who should succeed in genteel comedy.] Receipts: #220 (Cross)

Event Comment: New Scenes, Music, Habits, Decorations, Machines &c. Nothing under Full Prices. A new Pantomime-went off with great Applause (Cross). [The afterpiece dealt with in high irony by Murphy in Gray's Inn Journal (29 Dec.): It is writ entirely upon the Grecian plan, so much admired by the French critics, and of course does not bid very fair to please the multitude in this country, whose taste is too much vitiated by Shakespeare's monstruous irregularity, to relish the simplicity of this piece. Mr Ranger will only observe that he is highly pleased with the Fable, the Morality, the University, and Integrity of it, and as the writing is equal all through, he looks upon it to be one of the best Pantomimes in the English language.] Receipts: #180 (Cross)

Event Comment: A new Woman (one Gregory) did Hermione , -Great Applause (Cross). [See Gray's Inn Journal (folio) No 16 for Murphy's praise of her, and Public Advertiser 19 Jan.: Verses on the Young Lady who acted Hermione.'

Event Comment: FFoote play'd Ben , Miss Macklin Miss Prue , Mrs Clive Mrs Frail . Foote cou'd not sing ye Song in Ben, so said two or three times, I can't do it & upon a little Hissing, said, Gentlemen I have no talents for singing-ye whole play Hum (Cross). [Opposed to Cross's summary of the effect of the performance appeared in Gray's Inn Journal the Murphy account (19 Jan.): The excellent Comedy of Love for Love has been revived here this week, the humorous and diverting Part of Ben, the sailor, was performed with great pleasantry by Mr Foote, who showed by his manner and his looks, that he had entered into the secret of the character, tho' twas visible at the same time, that his powers were greatly suppressed by his solicitude for his first appearance in a new character. It may be said of Miss Macklin, tho perhaps better qualified for spirited genteel comedy, that she acquitted herself with great applause in a part in which Mrs Clive has displayed so many inimitable strokes of humour."] Receipts: #160 (Cross)